Quantum computing is expected to offer solutions to computational problems that are otherwise computationally intractable. Although the core technology is still being developed, quantum-inspired computing already has been offering practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing, applications in civil engineering remain underexplored. This study aims to lay the foundation for future adoption by introducing the fundamental principles of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing and by conducting a multivocal literature review. The review provides insights into the current research landscape in civil engineering and offers a detailed analysis of potential use cases and application areas. The findings are expected to serve as a foundation for guiding future research endeavors and practical deployments of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing in civil engineering, as these technologies continue to mature. • Introduction to quantum and quantum-inspired computing (QC & QiC). • Identifying the pros and cons of QC & QiC given civil engineering (CE) requirements. • Presenting a multivocal literature review on QC & QiC for CE. • Recommending high-potential use cases and QC & QiC approaches in CE • Identifying research topics to advance QC & QiC in CE for real-world impact.
Quantum computing is expected to offer solutions to computational problems that are otherwise computationally intractable. Although the core technology is still being developed, quantum-inspired computing already has been offering practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing, applications in civil engineering remain underexplored. This study aims to lay the foundation for future adoption by introducing the fundamental principles of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing and by conducting a multivocal literature review. The review provides insights into the current research landscape in civil engineering and offers a detailed analysis of potential use cases and application areas. The findings are expected to serve as a foundation for guiding future research endeavors and practical deployments of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing in civil engineering, as these technologies continue to mature. • Introduction to quantum and quantum-inspired computing (QC & QiC). • Identifying the pros and cons of QC & QiC given civil engineering (CE) requirements. • Presenting a multivocal literature review on QC & QiC for CE. • Recommending high-potential use cases and QC & QiC approaches in CE • Identifying research topics to advance QC & QiC in CE for real-world impact.
Quantum computing is expected to offer solutions to computational problems that are otherwise practically intractable. While the core technology is still developing, quantum-inspired computing already offers practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both technologies, applications in civil engineering remain underexplored. This study aims to lay the foundation for future adoption by introducing the fundamental principles of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing and by conducting a systematic multivocal literature review. The review provides insights into the current research landscape in civil engineering and offers a detailed analysis of potential use cases and application areas. The findings are expected to serve as a foundation for guiding future research endeavors and practical deployments of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing in civil engineering, as the technologies continue to mature.
Civil engineering problems are inherently complex and computationally intensive, often requiring advanced methods to analyze large-scale systems and nonlinear interactions. Addressing these challenges requires next-generation computing paradigms that can deliver greater speed and efficiency. Quantum computing, which exploits quantum–mechanical principles such as superposition and entanglement, offers the potential to process information in ways that far surpass classical computing, enabling faster and more accurate solutions to intricate engineering problems. This emerging technology could transform multiple areas within civil engineering—for example, materials science, project management, structural analysis, and design. Continued research and development in this direction may usher the discipline into a new era of computational innovation. Although quantum computing remains at an early stage of maturity, it has already attracted significant attention from researchers across diverse civil-engineering subfields. Fully realizing its potential will require overcoming major technical and practical challenges. This article presents an in-depth review of quantum computing applications in civil engineering, highlighting current progress, advantages, and limitations. It also outlines promising directions for future research to guide the evolution of this rapidly developing interdisciplinary field.
Quantum computing, leveraging quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement, is emerging as a transformative force in computing technology, promising unparalleled computational speed and efficiency crucial for engineering applications. This advancement presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring engineers to familiarize themselves with quantum principles, applications, and complexities. This paper systematically explores the foundational concepts of quantum mechanics and their implications for computational advancements, emphasizing the superiority of quantum algorithms in solving engineering problems. It identifies areas where gate-based quantum computing has the potential to outperform classical methods despite facing scalability and coherence issues. By offering clear examples with minimal reliance on in-depth quantum physics or hardware specifics, the aim is to make quantum computing accessible to engineers, addressing the steep learning curve and fostering its practical adoption for complex problem-solving and technological advancement as quantum hardware becomes more robust and reliable.
The vital role of civil engineering is to enable the development of modern cities and establish foundations for smart and sustainable urban environments of the future. Advanced sensing technologies are among the instrumental methods used to enhance the performance of civil engineering infrastructures and address the multifaceted challenges of future cities. Through this study, we discussed the shortcomings of traditional sensors in four primary civil engineering domains: construction, energy, water, and transportation. Then, we investigated and summarized the potential of quantum sensors to contribute to and revolutionize the management of civil engineering infrastructures. For the water sector, advancements are expected in monitoring water quality and pressure in water and sewage infrastructures. In the energy sector, quantum sensors may facilitate renewables integration and improve grid stability and buildings’ energy efficiency. The most promising progress in the construction field is the ability to identify subsurface density and underground structures. In transportation, these sensors create many fresh avenues for real-time traffic management and smart mobility solutions. As one of the first-in-the-field studies offering the adoption of quantum sensors across four primary domains of civil engineering, this research establishes the basis for the discourse about the scope and timeline for deploying quantum sensors to real-world applications towards the quantum transformation of civil engineering.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize various fields, including engineering. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the applications of quantum computing in engineering, focusing on algorithms, hardware, and future prospects. We explore the fundamental principles of quantum computing, the current state of quantum hardware, and the key algorithms that have been developed for engineering problems. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in integrating quantum computing into engineering workflows and provide a forward-looking perspective on the future of this field. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of quantum computing and engineering
We use the benefits and components of classical computers every day. However, there are many types of problems which, as they grow in size, their computational complexity grows larger than classical computers will ever be able to solve. Quantum computing (QC) is a computation model that uses quantum physical properties to solve such problems. QC is at the early stage of large-scale adoption in various industry domains to take advantage of the algorithmic speed-ups it has to offer. It can be applied in a variety of areas, such as computer science, mathematics, chemical and biochemical engineering, and the financial industry. The main goal of this paper is to give an overview to chemical and biochemical researchers and engineers who may not be familiar with quantum computation. Thus, the paper begins by explaining the fundamental concepts of QC. The second contribution this publication tries to tackle is the fact that the chemical engineering literature still lacks a comprehensive review of the recent advances of QC. Therefore, this article reviews and summarizes the state of the art to gain insight into how quantum computation can benefit and optimize chemical engineering issues. A bibliography analysis covers the comprehensive literature in QC and analyzes quantum computing research in chemical engineering on various publication topics, using Clarivate analytics covering the years 1990 to 2020. After the bibliographic analysis, relevant applications of QC in chemical and biochemical engineering are highlighted and a conclusion offers an outlook of future directions within the field.